The 5 Categories of Makeup Removers

Aug 25, 2020

Best Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes.

There are five types of eye makeup removers. You will want to choose one or more of them depending on your personal skin type and lifestyle. Then, you just need to make sure there aren't any toxins in the ingredient list. I review the reasons to wear CLEAN or toxin-free makeup in this blog.

The 5 categories of eye makeup removers are: micellar water, oil-free, oil-based, clothes, and wipes. Some of these are best for heavy makeup wear and some are better for light wear. Some of these are better for dry skin, oily skin, contact lens wear, and busy lifestyles. Keep reading on to find out which would best suit your eyes. And, don't hesitate to think that you may want to have multiple types around for different situations like special occasions or travel.

The one thing that all of these products have in common is that they truly are eye doctor approved. I have tried them all and have only listed the ones which have benefited myself, my staff, and my patients. Download the Guide to Makeup Removers here.

Micellar Water

Micellar water is very gentle and cleansing on your skin. It works by using tiny droplets of oil called micelles that are suspended in water. The oil helps to attract particles of dirt and makeup. After it surrounds each dirt and makeup particle, it removes them from your skin and lashes.

Micellar water is good for patients who have sensitive eyes because it is so gentle and removes the makeup easily. You won't have to rub firmly to remove the makeup with this one.

Be careful when choosing a brand, however. I had to scour the web to find one without toxins in the ingredient list. But, I was able to find one that didn't have any toxic ingredients in it. It is listed in the guide here.

Many of the brands I looked at commonly have an ingredient called EDTA and it is used as a preservative. You want to avoid EDTA as it is on the toxins list. Download the list of toxic ingredients to avoid here.

Oil-Free Makeup Remover

Oil-free eye makeup remover is great for patients who wear contact lenses, because it's not going to leave any residue behind that your contact lenses might pick up. It is gentle on the skin and is water based. However, it would not be great for people who have very dry skin. It may make the skin around your eyes more dry.

Oil-Based Makeup Remover

In these removers, oils are used to penetrate deep into the pores of the skin to remove makeup and dirt without stripping away the skins own oils. They are also able to dissolve tough makeup and melt them so they are able to be gently wiped away.

Oil-based makeup removers are great for patients who have dry skin, because the oils can help to hydrate the skin around the eyes. They are also great for heavy makeup wearers since the formulation dissolves the pigments.

However, if you have oily skin or wear contact lenses, this might be too oily. Also, the oils in this type of formulation can dissolve the glue used to apply false lashes. So, avoid this type if you wear false lashes that you want to keep around.

Makeup Remover Cloth

Reusable microfiber cloths hold the makeup into the fibers and remove them from the skin with a gentle rubbing motion. Moisten the cloth with water before wiping the eyes. There is nothing else needed. It is completely soap and chemical free.

These clothes are easy to find in the drug store, or online. They come in a variety of colors. I like the black color because it hides the mascara. Another benefit is that it is environmentally friendly since it is reusable.

Makeup Remover Wipes

Eye makeup remover wipes are pre-moistened, disposable cloths that gently wipe away makeup from the skin with a gentle rubbing motion. Some of these wipes also contain micellar water. Check the label to see if you need to rinse after using.

Makeup remover wipes are great for travel and some of them even come individually wrapped so you can have them with you all the time.

Wipes are readily available at most drug and grocery stores. However, you must read the ingredients carefully. Many drug store brands contain alcohol. And alcohol can be very irritating to the eyes.

CONCLUSION

Removing your eye makeup every day is the most important step in any beauty routine. Left over eye makeup is a comfortable place for bacteria to live. Bacteria living on your lids and lashes will cause the eyelids and eyes to be red and irritated.

Be sure that your eye makeup removers do not contain any toxic ingredients though. You can do so by using my Ultimate Guide to Eye Makeup Removers. this will give you a curated list of products which are eye doctor approved. And, the PDF contains links to purchase the product you choose that best suits your lifestyle.